AmaZulu FC defeated Cape Town City 5-1 in the DStv Premiership match at the Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday evening to continue their amazing title challenge.
As a result, Usuthu remain second on the league standings – a point behind leaders, Mamelodi Sundowns, while the Citizens remained seventh on the log.
The Citizens threatened first when Bradley Ralani found himself in a one-on-one situation with Veli Mothwa in the eighth minute, but somehow the winger fired straight at the AmaZulu goalkeeper.
However, Augustine Mulenga did not make the same mistake at the other a minute later as the Zambia international scored with a low shot after a beautiful team move to make it 1-0 to AmaZulu.
City then surged forward as they looked to level matters, but they could not create clear-cut chances with the AmaZulu defence looking solid and compact.
Usuthu upped the tempo towards the half-time break and they were awarded a penalty after Luvuyo Memela was fouled in the box by keeper Peter Leeuwenburgh.
Tapelo Xoki then stepped up and beat Leeuwenburgh from the spot-kick to make it 2-0 to AmaZulu heading into the half-time break.
Usuthu continued to press the Citizens after the restart and they extended their lead through Lehlononolo Majoro, who scored to make it 3-1 to AmaZulu in the 49th minute with Mulenga grabbing the assist.
The visitors were then awarded a penalty after Siyethemba Sithebe was fouled in the box by Craig Martin in the 55th minute, but this time Leeuwenburgh denied Xoki from the spot-kick.
This did not deter Usuthu as they pushed forward and they were awarded their third penalty after Majoro was fouled in the box in the 65th minute and Memela beat Leeuwenburgh from the spot-kick to make it 3-0 to AmaZulu.
City took control of the match in the final 20 minutes of the game and they were awarded a penalty and Fagrie Lakay placed his effort wide of the target from the spot-kick in the 75th minute.
However, the Citizens kept pushing and they managed to pull one back through Lakay, who made amends for his missed penalty when he beat Mothwa from close range to make it 4-1 with 13 minutes left on the clock.
The hosts continued to attack, but City were left vulnerable at the back and they were punished by Sithebe, who scored in the 86th minute to seal AmaZulu’s 5-1 win with Sibusiso Mabiliso grabbing the assist.